In the finale of Karryon’s season 1 of Luxury Unpacked, hosted by Fiona Dalton, we head to the skies for a practical, advisor-led guide to flying in style.
Answering the question, would you be able to book Premium Economy, Business or First Class for your next long-haul journey from Australia?
Seasoned experts join Fiona to explore the options. David Brandon, from Luxury Travel Advisory at Savenio, brings the advisor’s lens, and Dennis Bunnik, from Bunnik Tours and the popular YouTube channel Dennis Bunnik Travels, offers the frequent flyer and airline reviewer’s perspective.
Together, they dig deep on:
- When Premium Economy makes sense
- Why Business is often the “sweet spot”
- When First Class is worth the splurge
- Tips for smart upgrades, points use and earlybird deals
- What’s coming next in the world of luxury air travel
Whether you fly often or dream of upgrading, this episode will help you choose smarter, not just spend more.
Read more about choosing the right seat here
Learn more about Savenio here
Learn more about Bunnik Tours here
Watch Dennis’s flight reviews on YouTube here
Subscribe to the Luxury Unpacked Podcast here
Read more about the Luxury Unpacked Podcast here
Read more about this episode here
Discover more from Karryon Podcasts: Listen to Into The Hearts Of Canada here
And the Karryon’s Check In here
Visit: karryon.com.au for more from Karryon
Luxury Unpacked is a Karryon Podcasts original podcast, hosted by Fiona Dalton, produced by Cassie Walker and executive produced by Matt Leedham.
Karryon acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which Karryon Media is made and the lands you are listening from today.
Transcript
Welcome to the final episode of this season of Luxury Unpacked.
Speaker A:
Over the series, we've explored many aspects of luxury travel.
Speaker A:
And today we're shifting our focus to the skies because luxury doesn't start when you arrive.
Speaker A:
It really begins the moment you leave home for the airport.
Speaker A:
And here's the thing.
Speaker A:
Luxury flying isn't always about spending more.
Speaker A:
It's about choosing smarter.
Speaker A:
So the question is, how do we do that?
Speaker A:
When does premium economy make sense?
Speaker A:
And why is business class often considered the sweet spot?
Speaker A:
And when is first class truly worth the splurge?
Speaker A:
To help us unpack all of this, I have two brilliant guests joining me today.
Speaker A:
First is David Brandon, who's the founder of luxury travel advisory Savenio and he brings the advisor's perspective on guiding clients through complex challenges choices.
Speaker A:
And second is Dennis Bunnock from Bunnock Tours, who not only leads one of Australia's great travel companies, but also has a hugely popular YouTube channel where Dennis reviews airline experiences firsthand.
Speaker A:
Between the three of us, we hope to provide you with your smart guide to choosing the right airline and the right cabin class for your next long haul journey.
Speaker A:
And a few added tips and tricks along the way.
Speaker A:
Well, gents, welcome to David.
Speaker A:
Dennis, how are you both?
Speaker B:
Fantastic.
Speaker C:
We're in sync already.
Speaker A:
I've got you in stereo sound today.
Speaker A:
It's so great to see you.
Speaker A:
You're probably aware, but this is the final episode of this season of Luxury Unpacked.
Speaker A:
I can't believe it.
Speaker A:
Over the past nine episodes, we've been on trains, ships, we've been on wellness retreats.
Speaker A:
Many sides really of luxury travel.
Speaker A:
But today, as you know, going to turn our attention to the skies.
Speaker A:
Those of us in the industry know that luxury flying isn't necessarily about spending more, it's about choosing smarter.
Speaker A:early bird buying season for:Speaker A:
David, you're going to bring the advisor perspective.
Speaker A:
Dennis, your very storied airline reviews, and of course you're a frequent flyer.
Speaker A:
You're going to bring the user experience.
Speaker A:
So are you both ready to bring some of your knowledge and experience to the consumer?
Speaker A:
Dental.
Speaker A:
Dennis, when was the last time you were flying before this podcast?
Speaker C:
Today, two days ago.
Speaker C:
Just domestically.
Speaker C:
I'm up to, I think 68 flights so far this year.
Speaker C:
I'll end up at 92.
Speaker C:
93, I think.
Speaker A:
Extraordinary.
Speaker A:
How does that compare to last year for you?
Speaker C:
It'll be just a few more.
Speaker C:
I've never actually cracked 100 and I don't know if I want to.
Speaker A:
Oh wow, that is a lot of miles.
Speaker A:
David.
Speaker A:
Honestly, every time I look on my social media post I see you in stuff some fabulous exotic location.
Speaker A:
How many trips have you done this year?
Speaker B:
This year?
Speaker B:
Not as many actually.
Speaker B:
The last international one was in May up to Singapore which is fantastic.
Speaker B:
And I've only done a couple of domestic flights since.
Speaker B:
But.
Speaker B:
Oh, don't worry, there's more on the cards very shortly.
Speaker A:
Well look, let's start with premium economy.
Speaker A:
I think that's an area of interest for a lot of people.
Speaker A:
When does it make sense for a luxury traveler to be travelling in premium economy rather than some of the other classes?
Speaker B:
I think the premium economy is really good for the mid haul sectors.
Speaker B:
You know, I've done Honolulu, Sydney, which I couldn't get business class on.
Speaker B:
So I did premium economy in there and it was nine hours and it was a great flight.
Speaker B:
It was very good, you know, but it was a daylight flight I think.
Speaker B:
I'm not used to sitting up sleeping at night so I don't tend to go premium economy on those sort of like some.
Speaker B:
But you know it is, it's definitely better than economy class of course and you know, and it really depends on the budget of the, of your client as well.
Speaker B:
So you know, premium economy is a great option, you know, if you can't afford to go, you know, business class.
Speaker A:
And what should you look for in a true premium economy seat?
Speaker A:
Maybe that's something Dennis, you could share with us say versus some of the enhanced economy offerings that are out there today.
Speaker A:
What's a true premium economy seat look like these days?
Speaker C:
There's actually not that much variation between the different airlines.
Speaker C:
Premium economy seats, it's probably more their approach around meals and where it is in the cabin in their overall aircraft which sets them apart.
Speaker C:
At one extreme you've got say Emirates who really treat it a little bit as a business class light when it comes to the meal side of things.
Speaker C:
And then at the other side, I've just flown with Vietnam Airlines and yes, it's a separate cabin but the meals are very much economy class meals with a little bit of extra choice.
Speaker C:
Not much more than say an economy class.
Speaker C:
But the seats, there's not a massive amount of difference or variety as you would say get in business class.
Speaker C:
In business class there's a lot more variety.
Speaker A:
And if you think about the price point for premium economy, is their price creep closer to business class or is economy creeping to premium economy these days?
Speaker A:
Do either of you have a view on that?
Speaker B:
Well, premium economy's getting up there, but so is economy class too.
Speaker B:
So it's still relative compared to what it was before.
Speaker B:
But some of the premium economy classes though, you know, if you, if you book it early, you're going to get a better deal, but if you book it towards a later option.
Speaker B:
Yeah, that is, it's more expensive, you know, so it is getting up towards a business class, you know, it fares.
Speaker B:e better off to pay the extra:Speaker B:
It just depends on, you know, the client and what they really want, you.
Speaker A:
Know, out of the, and the destination and the hours.
Speaker B:
Right, yeah, for sure.
Speaker A:
Do you agree with that, Dennis?
Speaker C:
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker C:
And the premium economy cabins tend to be relatively small, so they are, they are limited in their availability, which tends to drive up the pricing.
Speaker C:
So if you can get premium economy sort of two, two and a half times the price of an economy class seat, that's a good deal.
Speaker C:
If it goes beyond that, I'd be looking at, okay, what are the deals for business class because that's going to be better value.
Speaker A:
A lot of people think about premium economy or downgrading to premium economy who might otherwise travel business when they're traveling with family.
Speaker A:
But then I hear that they find availability difficult because that cabin size is quite small, as you say.
Speaker A:
Yeah.
Speaker A:
So are there any airlines that really stand out for you both in premium economy that do it?
Speaker A:
Well?
Speaker C:
Yeah, the ones of the ones that I've experienced, certainly Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Emirates have been the standout.
Speaker C:
The other one that was really good was China Airlines out of Taiwan.
Speaker C:
Fantastic product.
Speaker C:
They're a five star airline, but they're not necessarily that well known.
Speaker C:
They're sort of been a bit of a best kept secret.
Speaker C:
Their business class is really, really good.
Speaker C:
Their premium economy is really good as well.
Speaker C:
So, yeah, they would be the standouts for me.
Speaker A:
And are they newer aircraft?
Speaker A:
Is that one of the reasons why.
Speaker C:
The China Airlines flight that I had from was actually from Melbourn through to Auckland?
Speaker C:
I tried that out and that was a brand new A350.
Speaker C:
So very, very good aircraft there out.
Speaker A:
Of the equation then?
Speaker C:
Yes.
Speaker A:
How about you, what's your view on.
Speaker A:
On good quality carriers in premium?
Speaker B:
Yeah, well, virtually exactly the same as what Dennis said.
Speaker B:
Singapore Airlines is one of the best all rounders, I think.
Speaker B:
Yeah, Emirates definitely.
Speaker B:
It's a great product, very polished, great entertainment on board as well.
Speaker B:
And you know, the Qantas isn't too bad as well.
Speaker B:
The A380s or the, or the 787, but the 787, the seating feels a bit more tighter, I suppose.
Speaker B:
But yeah, look, they're all pretty good, those three carriers for sure.
Speaker A:
Well, let's move on to business class or the sweet spot.
Speaker A:
As we talk about in luxury travel, David, with your clientele at Cevenio, business is pretty much considered the global standard in luxury.
Speaker A:
We.
Speaker A:
Why do you think this is?
Speaker B:
Well, it's all about, you know, having a lie flatbed and real sleep and getting rested, you know, before you go on your holiday and also coming back, you know.
Speaker B:
Cause some people are still working as well.
Speaker B:
I've got a lot of retirees, but a lot of business people, you know, that they, they need to have that rest before they come back so that they can get that extra sleep and all that.
Speaker B:
And then also you've got the lounges, the privacy in the, in those lounges as well, you know, which is an extra added value, you know, for, for the actual business class trip.
Speaker B:
Sometimes the premium economy is very much the same, high difference in price.
Speaker B:
So, you know, why wouldn't you fly in business class?
Speaker B:
And there's a lot of carriers that have, you know, really good deals, you know, from time to time.
Speaker B:
You know, I got on Etihad last year up to Switzerland for six and a half grand out of, out of Sydney, which is very good.
Speaker B:
You know, you wouldn't even buy premium economy for that, but you know, from time to time.
Speaker B:
And Qantas had a sale not so long ago and it was fantastic as well.
Speaker B:
It was around the $7,000 or $8,000 mark, which is, which is a fantastic thing.
Speaker B:
It's just about having a look and seeing what's out there in the marketplace.
Speaker B:
You know, I just look at what my clients like, you know, and what particular they might like a particular airline or they want to try it or it's depending on their budget.
Speaker B:
You've got to take the whole lot in to account, you know, for your client and just make sure that they get their.
Speaker B:
The best option that they can do.
Speaker A:
In the leisure side of the business.
Speaker A:
Does loyalty play a big role in carrier choice?
Speaker A:
Obviously in corporate it does.
Speaker A:
The loyalty programs really drive a lot of the behaviour.
Speaker A:
But tell me about what you're seeing in terms of clients choices for business class as a result of loyalty.
Speaker B:
Well, loyalty is one of the biggest things, of course, but really, at the end of the day, sometimes people will change on price.
Speaker B:
It can trump loyalty.
Speaker B:
Yeah.
Speaker B:
Depending on how many status points that they've got.
Speaker B:
And they need to get status points that will determine which airline that they go on.
Speaker B:
But if they've got their platinum or platinum pluses really, they can then decide try another airline this time because the price and then they, you know, they want to try something different as well.
Speaker B:
Because sometimes it's a bit like going.
Speaker B:
You just go and stay at the same hotel all the time.
Speaker B:
You want to try something else if you can.
Speaker A:
So what you're saying is when you've got status locked in, then it's okay to have a go and try something new and different.
Speaker A:
And Dennis, you've been traveling a lot this year and I'm sure you've spent a lot of time on various business class products.
Speaker A:
What should travellers be looking out for this year when they're comparing business class products?
Speaker C:
When I travel, it is all about variety because I'm trying to fly new routes and new airlines for my flight reviews.
Speaker C:
So I've had a few different combinations.
Speaker C:
What I tend to look for if I'm traveling for business, I need to be somewhere.
Speaker C:
It's the same as my hotel choice.
Speaker C:
Hotel as close as possible to where I need to be.
Speaker C:
Or if the function is at a particular hotel, I'll try and stay there.
Speaker C:
Same with flying.
Speaker C:
I'm based in Adelaide.
Speaker C:
We're a long way from anywhere and we don't have as many choices.
Speaker C:
So what's going to get me to where I need to go the quickest and the easiest?
Speaker A:
So it's efficiency for you?
Speaker C:
It is efficiency and then it's what am I comfortable with too?
Speaker C:
Airports like Doha and Singapore, very easy to transfer through and I know them really well, so I can almost do it with my eyes closed.
Speaker C:
I know Abu Dhabi have got a new airport now.
Speaker C:
I haven't tried that yet.
Speaker C:
Their old airport was a nightmare.
Speaker C:
So I used to avoid that.
Speaker C:
You know, Dubai can be very, very crowded, so it can be a good airport if you're in and out on the same terminal.
Speaker C:
But if you've got to change terminals and you're there during rush hour, it can be a nightmare as well.
Speaker C:
And then connections come into it.
Speaker C:
So lots of different factors, loyalty as well, the overall experience, because there is a lot of variety in business class.
Speaker A:
And what about aircraft choice?
Speaker A:
Does that play a role for you in choosing a particular carrier?
Speaker C:
It does because I like the variety.
Speaker C:
I think airline choice is the.
Speaker C:
Is a big factor that a lot of people don't necessarily take into account.
Speaker C:
I'll use Emirates again as an example, if you're flying first class, then you really want to be on the Emirates A380.
Speaker C:
Because the A380 is such a bigger aircraft, you've got more space.
Speaker C:
It is their flagship.
Speaker C:
They've got the bar at the back so you can get out and socialize a little bit.
Speaker C:
The Triple 7s, I know they've been retrofitting them.
Speaker C:
It's a long time over, overdue.
Speaker C:
But they did have, and they still have a number of their aircraft that have got a 222 or a 2, 32 business class, which is chalk and cheese.
Speaker C:
It is old generation seating.
Speaker C:
And then they've got the new 350s coming in where they've squeezed the A380 seating into the 350.
Speaker C:
But it's a narrower aircraft, so those seats are narrower, not as comfortable for sleeping.
Speaker C:
So that becomes a, that becomes a factor.
Speaker C:
I've had, just had an interesting one with Vietnam Airlines.
Speaker C:
I flew from Australia to Europe, return via Ho chi Minh City, 787 and an A350.
Speaker C:
So the Boeing 787 in premium economy was much more comfortable than premium economy on the A350.
Speaker C:
I couldn't get comfortable on the A350.
Speaker C:
It was a bit narrower.
Speaker C:
And this was in premium economy.
Speaker C:
Certainly couldn't sleep.
Speaker C:
The 787, it was the opposite.
Speaker C:
You know, it was more comfortable, it was wider.
Speaker C:
I could sleep in business class.
Speaker C:
It was actually the other way around.
Speaker C:
The 350 in business class in Vietnam Airlines was more comfortable and the 787 was less comfortable to sleep.
Speaker C:
Yeah.
Speaker A:
Fascinating.
Speaker C:
There is no hard and fast rule.
Speaker C:
Probably a good plug for a YouTube channel and to check out flight reviews because it's that little detail that we do go into.
Speaker B:
You just don't buy business flats, you buy the right seat.
Speaker C:
That's what it's all about, 100%.
Speaker A:
And David, if you think back over, you know, the last 12 or 18 months and some of the travel you've done, who's doing it well in, in business class from Australia and why do you think that?
Speaker B:
Well, I've flown a few.
Speaker B:
Japan Airlines is very good.
Speaker B:
I flew Japan Airlines quite often actually, because they had a really competitive airfare as well, but fully flatbed.
Speaker B:
The service was outstanding.
Speaker B:
You know, in the.
Speaker B:
The cleanliness of the cabin was outstanding as well.
Speaker B:
They've always kept it clean.
Speaker B:
It's just going through Tokyo and it can be a bit difficult if you got overnight.
Speaker B:
But it was very good.
Speaker B:
I've flown on Cathay.
Speaker B:
I've flown in Finnair on Turkish Airlines as well.
Speaker B:
I've flown Singapore Airlines at the next trip.
Speaker B:
I've done Singapore Airlines quite a number of times.
Speaker B:
Emirates, of course, and Eddie had.
Speaker B:
So, you know, I've tried a fair few.
Speaker B:
So they, they're all a bit different and it really depends, as Dennis said, on the aircraft type.
Speaker B:
If when I flew Etihad, it had the, the triple seven and it was not very good seating.
Speaker B:
It was, I think the original seating that they had because I can remember doing Etihad many, many moons ago, but I think it was exactly the same seating.
Speaker B:
But then on the next day they had the, the better seating, you know, the new seating.
Speaker B:
So, so yeah, it's, it's all about picking the right seat on the right airline and the right aircraft.
Speaker A:
And the 777 and also the 787.
Speaker A:
Dennis, so that's a Boeing product.
Speaker A:
Is that the competitor to the Airbus A350 product?
Speaker C:
Yes, the 787 is probably the direct competitor.
Speaker C:
They're both sort of composite materials.
Speaker C:
They both pressurize the cabin at a lower altitude so it's a more comfortable flying experience and they're quieter.
Speaker C:
The 777 is pretty noisy and it's the slightly more modern version of the 747, but there is a new one coming out, but I believe that's now just been saw over the weekend that was delayed by another year.
Speaker C:So:Speaker A:
So we can hold for that one.
Speaker A:
Dennis, almost every guest on the podcast that I've asked this question of, which is, tell me which is your favorite business class airline, has said to me over the last nine episodes, believe it or not, Qatar Airways gets their vote almost every time in business class.
Speaker A:
Can you talk me through why you think that is?
Speaker A:
And I promise you they're not sponsoring this, this episode.
Speaker C:
Yeah, and look, they're not wrong.
Speaker C:
I agree with them.
Speaker C:
Qatar, especially their Q suite, which they're flying out of all Australian cities except for Sydney.
Speaker C:
Sydney is on the A380.
Speaker C:
They've got the bar at the back and it is a 1, 2, 1.
Speaker C:
But it's not the Qsuite.
Speaker C:
It's a good product, but it's not the Q suite.
Speaker C:
But overall, Qatar's business class is just more consistent.
Speaker C:
They do luxury very, very well.
Speaker C:
Everything from the meals to the in flight service to the little things like having pajamas available on all the long haul flights, which makes traveling far more comfortable to having a dining on demand and dining on demand is one of those small things, but it's really important for long haul business travel where you're trying to get into the time zone of the destination you're going into.
Speaker C:
And especially from Australia, you've got two legs to anywhere.
Speaker C:
And it's that second leg where suddenly the lights come on and it's 3 o' clock in the morning, according to your body and they're trying to serve you dinner and you just want to sleep.
Speaker A:
Dining on demand means that you can eat when you want to, is that right?
Speaker A:
As opposed to when they want to feed you?
Speaker C:
Yeah, 100%.
Speaker C:
And I must say, there's some other airlines that have started to move into this space as well.
Speaker C:
And Qantas, I flew them back from the States into Australia and it's a late night departure out of la, early morning arrival into Sydney.
Speaker C:
And what they did is they took breakfast orders, sort of like one of those cards you hang off the back of your hotel room.
Speaker C:
Yeah, Right.
Speaker C:
So you fill in your breakfast order before we even took off and they said, would you like us to wake you up?
Speaker C:
Now, breakfast was then not served until an hour before arrival.
Speaker C:
Now you've got a 6am arrival or something into Sydney, which means that they could, they'd already had everybody's orders, so they don't have to wake everybody up to take the order, then make the meal.
Speaker C:
So the cabin stayed dark until about half an hour before arrival, which is perfect for if you want to sleep.
Speaker A:
Yeah, makes a big difference, doesn't it?
Speaker A:
Makes a big difference because otherwise you're having to wake up at 3:30am Sydney time, which is not fun.
Speaker C:
Oh, yeah, exactly.
Speaker C:
By the time they wake up the whole cabin, then they're taking orders, they're clanking around, all of this sort of stuff.
Speaker C:
Um, it's those little things which I think set long haul business class airlines apart.
Speaker C:
And Qatar just does that better, I think, than, than anybody.
Speaker A:
And David, what if I aspire to business class, but I can't quite afford it in my budget for a particular trip?
Speaker A:
What can I do?
Speaker A:
How can I still get into the business class cabin?
Speaker B:
Fjana, we've got a deal for you.
Speaker B:
You know, there's, there's a lot of interlying carriers that we can actually use.
Speaker A:
And what does that mean?
Speaker B:
Well, like Finnair, for example, they have fares out of Australia and you might be flying up Qantas or Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific through to Asia and then you fly the Finnair product up to Helsinki, then back into Europe and those fares Are they're hovering.
Speaker B:
Probably just a bit under 8,000 at the moment.
Speaker A:
So more competitive than the others?
Speaker B:
They're more competitive, but you've got an extra stop as well.
Speaker B:
But Helsinki Airport is not too bad to go through, you know, to do your immigration and all that.
Speaker B:
They've actually got the quick passport scanning there now, which I found was really good.
Speaker B:
When you're connecting flights, you haven't got a, you know, might have a short connection, but you'll still get through in time.
Speaker B:
But, you know, there's different things like that, you know, whereas the travel industry, you know, travel agents know, you know, whereas it's not so readily available, you know, online.
Speaker A:
Sure.
Speaker A:
And I imagine it's the same with airlines like Lufthansa and Swissair, is it, where they don't fly into Australia, but they have a connection with a carrier that does, is that right?
Speaker B:
Yes, that's correct, yeah.
Speaker A:
And, Dennis, what about this idea of bidding for a business class seat?
Speaker A:
I think they call it an upgrade bid.
Speaker A:
How does that work?
Speaker C:
Yeah, that's happening domestically and a bit internationally now as well, where you'll get an email beforehand before you fly and say bid for an upgrade.
Speaker C:
And they give you a range to start from, from this.
Speaker C:
And, you know, some people had success by offering 10, $15 more than the lowest.
Speaker A:
Okay.
Speaker C:
And then others have missed out completely.
Speaker C:
They've did it.
Speaker C:
Yes.
Speaker C:
So it's a little bit like when you put in for a points upgrade, expect not to get it so that you don't get your hopes up.
Speaker A:
And is it true, Dennis, that if I.
Speaker A:
If I use points to upgrade to business class, I can't always do it on the cheapest economy fare, is that right?
Speaker C:
That's right, yeah.
Speaker C:
Certain airlines will have restrictions or it costs much higher.
Speaker C:
It costs more points to upgrade from the lowest fare.
Speaker C:
So domestically, Qantas, for example, if you're on their cheapest domestic flights to upgrade to business, it's a lot more points than if you're on a flexible fare.
Speaker C:
Types are certainly restricted when it comes to points upgrades.
Speaker B:
Yeah, no, they like giving away points, but they don't like to use them.
Speaker A:
Right.
Speaker A:
Okay.
Speaker A:
So I've only ever flown first class once.
Speaker A:
Full disclosure was pretty amazing.
Speaker A:
And I think it was from memory, Sydney to Los Angeles on qantas on the A380.
Speaker A:
And I really genuinely thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
Speaker A:
It was just the most incredible experience.
Speaker A:
Now, obviously, everybody would love to fly first class all the time.
Speaker A:
The truth is, it does cost a substantial premium on Business.
Speaker A:
Help me understand, when should we splurge to first?
Speaker A:
When does it make sense and when is it worth it?
Speaker B:
Well, some people just fly first class.
Speaker B:
They, you know, because they have the budget for it, which is very nice.
Speaker B:
Other passengers, maybe for the honeymoons or the anniversaries or special occasions.
Speaker B:
Special occasions.
Speaker B:
And it's a bit like the theater in the sky.
Speaker B:
You get the caviar, the champag, the privacy.
Speaker B:
And some airlines provide the chauffeur drive as well, and fewer passengers, you know, you get a lot better service and all that on board.
Speaker B:
Beautiful French champagne, as you know.
Speaker B:
I like a drop of that.
Speaker B:
And of course, Emirates.
Speaker B:
I do enjoy Emirates First Class because, you know, you can have a shower, you know, before you land, which is.
Speaker B:
Goes that one step extra and that.
Speaker A:
Novelty never wears off.
Speaker A:
Right.
Speaker C:
There is something super cool about having a shower at 35,000ft.
Speaker A:
Well, my questions are, is the water really hot and how long are you allowed to have it?
Speaker A:
The shower?
Speaker B:
It is really hot and I think it's or 15 minutes.
Speaker B:
It's quite, it's quite an amount of time that you can have the hot water, but it's, you know, it's still, you know, having a shower, you know, and being fresh when you hop off the aircraft makes a massive difference.
Speaker A:
Have you tried, have you tried Emirates first too, Dennis?
Speaker C:
Yes, I took, I took one for the team.
Speaker C:
It is an incredible, it is an incredible experience.
Speaker A:
And may I ask you both about this product called the Residence by Etihad?
Speaker A:
What is it?
Speaker C:
So the Residence is a step above first class that Etihad had on their A3.80 aircraft.
Speaker A:
Like an apartment in the sky.
Speaker C:
It's a two room apartment, so to say it's a seating area where the two of you can sit and then you have a separate bathroom and your own shower and your own double bed.
Speaker A:
It's like you're flying private.
Speaker C:
It is like flying private.
Speaker C:
I haven't flown it myself.
Speaker C:
I've spoken to people who have and I've seen some reviews on it and it is spectacular.
Speaker A:
Yeah.
Speaker C:
That said, the first class apartments that Etihad have on their A3, which I, I have flown, are spectacular.
Speaker C:
That's got a separate bed and a separate seat.
Speaker C:
So that in itself is, is a very, very good product as well.
Speaker C:
Yeah, Etihad First Class certainly is up there.
Speaker B:
I haven't done the Residence.
Speaker B:
I'm a bit.
Speaker C:
Not yet.
Speaker B:
And I haven't done Singapore Airlines first starts.
Speaker B:
I've got a lot of clients that do Singapore Airlines at first class and they Rave about it.
Speaker B:
Absolutely rave about it.
Speaker B:
So they're not too worried about having a shower before they hop off.
Speaker B:
But the service, everything on the new first class of Singapore Airlines is really hot.
Speaker A:
So I'm hearing it's about privacy, it's about service, it's about excellence, exclusivity.
Speaker A:
Is there a bit of a blurring of the lines now with some of the amazing business class products out there like Qatar Airways and some of the older style first class, or are they really two very different experiences?
Speaker C:
Guys, for an airline that does first class very well, it is a completely different experience.
Speaker C:
So if you're talking Emirates and Etihad or Singapore Airlines and their first class suites on their A80 are spectacular.
Speaker C:
It's a, you've got a separate chair, like a big lazy boy armchair that, that literally swivels around and a separate bed.
Speaker C:
And if you, if adjoining suites, the wall comes down and it's a double bed.
Speaker C:
It is.
Speaker C:
There's a spectacular amount of space.
Speaker C:
So that is a completely separate product from business class.
Speaker C:
And the jump from business class to that is as great as from economy class to business.
Speaker C:
So if you want to splurge and true luxury, that's it.
Speaker C:
Then there is the, the other first class and this is first class.
Speaker C:
That is the older style and there, the gap isn't actually that big.
Speaker C:
And this is where Qatar Airways, the jump from the Q suite to the first class that they offer on their A380s isn't actually much different.
Speaker C:
It is an older style product.
Speaker C:
It is quite open.
Speaker C:
So you don't have that level of privacy.
Speaker A:
Yep.
Speaker A:
You don't have the closed doors.
Speaker C:
Don't have the closed doors.
Speaker C:
There's no curtains in fact.
Speaker A:
Yeah.
Speaker A:
No chair, no.
Speaker A:
No lazy boys in beds.
Speaker C:
The bed's pretty comfortable though.
Speaker C:
It's.
Speaker C:
The caviar's good and the champagne's better and the cognac's better.
Speaker A:
And David, what, what have I got to spend to travel first class to Europe from Australia these days?
Speaker A:
What's the, what's the number looking like.
Speaker B:
Between 15 and 20 plus sort of thing, depending on which airline, you know, which one you go on.
Speaker B:
It's probably hovering more around that, you know, the seventeen thousand, twenty thousand dollar mark on most airlines.
Speaker B:
But again, you know, it depends.
Speaker B:
You know, as Dennis said, the difference between some businesses first is really there's not much difference.
Speaker B:
You know, it's a bigger seat, it's better caviar, better champagne.
Speaker B:
But you know, is it worth the extra cost is what it breaks down to.
Speaker A:
It sounds to me, like, some airlines are really focused on improving their business class product to set the standard at perhaps the expense of taking first to another level.
Speaker A:
What's happening with our national carrier with Qantas and their product for business and first?
Speaker A:
Are we due to see any product enhancements or innovation in Qantas over the next few years?
Speaker C:
Yeah, look, it's been quite popular to bag Qantas and not without good reason over the, over the last five years.
Speaker C:
But I must say I'll give them kudos here.
Speaker C:
I've flown Qantas business and first class internationally in this past six months and they have been fantastic.
Speaker C:
They've been really, really good.
Speaker C:
It seems like the crew and the Qantas staff actually enjoy working for Qantas again and the change has been palpable and you're seeing that in the, in cabin delivery and the service.
Speaker C:
Their product is now uniform across their fleet in terms of their business class product which is finally happen.
Speaker C:
Takes a long time for that to happen on and with airlines.
Speaker C:
So that is good.
Speaker C:
Their next innovation will come with, with Project sunrise and the 350s that are, that are coming in the seats that they've got.
Speaker C:
It's a good product.
Speaker C:
Is it, is it world leading?
Speaker C:
No.
Speaker C:
Is it as luxurious as Emirates or Etihad or Singapore Airlines?
Speaker C:
Definitely not.
Speaker C:
But it is a nice Aussie first class experience.
Speaker C:
Authentic, warm, genuine experience.
Speaker A:
And so great to hear that the crew have that sense of pride about the national carrier as well.
Speaker A:
Certainly that's been my experience over the last year or two is that Qantas have been very much back on track.
Speaker A:
And David, you mentioned Finnair being an offline carrier in Australia, but isn't there some sort of tie up between Qantas and Finnair between here and Europe?
Speaker B:
Yeah, they, they've wet leased their aircraft, Qantas so to go.
Speaker B:
Because they haven't got the aircraft to actually operate from Brisbane, Sydney, you know, so they, and they have Singapore up to Singapore and Asia as well.
Speaker B:
But I think they, they got Finnair hostesses and everything on board.
Speaker B:
But yeah, I mean I've done the product and the business class product on there.
Speaker B:
It's, it's a, it's a flatbed but you actually sit up.
Speaker B:
It's a strange bed because it's actually the back of the seat doesn't move but then fly, you know, goes out to a flat bed.
Speaker B:
But I found, you know, if you got, if I've got older clients on board, it's, it's not a great option for them because if they, once they lie down, they can't get themselves up.
Speaker B:
You know, they're trying to push themselves back for the older client.
Speaker B:
It's not a, it's not a great product, but, you know, anyone under, you know, 70, you got no problem.
Speaker B:
But it's a great service on board I never had any issues with, I must admit.
Speaker A:
I flew them to Europe last year and I know what you mean, David.
Speaker A:
The in business class, I liked it because it actually gives you more room in the space and I found it quite private.
Speaker A:
And I also just love the fact that Finland equals Marimecco.
Speaker A:
So beautiful.
Speaker A:
Marimecco duvets on board.
Speaker A:
Absolutely gorgeous.
Speaker A:
And the crew were terrific as well.
Speaker A:
Sprinkled with this little dose of Aussie Qantas influence as well because of the relationship they have between Finnair and Qantas.
Speaker A:
So they're really good.
Speaker C:
It is nice when an airline really embraces the culture of the country.
Speaker A:
That I think so too.
Speaker C:
It does that well.
Speaker A:
It's certainly something that you're looking for when you get on board, an airline experience, isn't it?
Speaker A:
We talked a little bit before about fleet choice, so obviously from an international perspective, the four airline types that I'm hearing time and time again are the A380, the A350, the 787 Dreamliner and the 777.
Speaker A:
Is there anything I'm missing there in terms of, I guess the most popular long haul product?
Speaker A:
And out of all of those, which, which fleet type would you choose in preference to the others?
Speaker A:
Dennis?
Speaker C:
Yeah, the, the one that's, that's missing from that and it's one that we're going to be hearing a bit more of in, in coming years is the A330.
Speaker C:
Now, Qantas have got probably the oldest fleet of A330s flying at the moment.
Speaker C:
They'll, they'll eventually be disappear, but you've got other airlines and Malaysia Airlines in this market is the, is the standout.
Speaker C:
They've just introduced their new A330neos and that's a brand new aircraft that they're flying into Australia.
Speaker C:
Their new business class has sliding doors so similar to the Q suite.
Speaker A:
That lifts them up to another level.
Speaker C:
Exactly.
Speaker C:
And Malaysia Airlines does have the, my favorite dish of any, any airline dish in the sky.
Speaker C:
And that's their satays that they start every lunch and dinner with.
Speaker C:
Absolutely delicious.
Speaker C:
So certainly that's one get your vote.
Speaker C:
But in terms of the other fleet, I would say the A350 for me is the most comfortable aircraft to fly because it is pressurized at a, at a lower altitude so your skin and your eyes don't dry out as much.
Speaker A:
And it's a quieter aircraft And David lounges, transit planning.
Speaker A:
What have I got to know?
Speaker A:
I'm flying to North America, I'm flying to Europe.
Speaker A:
Is there a particular destination you like to fly through?
Speaker A:
Because it just works better.
Speaker B:
Well, Singapore is probably one of the easiest ones, you know, to.
Speaker B:
Because it's easy to get around in Singapore.
Speaker B:
And the lounges are quite.
Speaker A:
You got lots of choice there.
Speaker B:
You got a lot of choice.
Speaker B:
Hong Kong, it's not too bad.
Speaker B:
The lounges in Emirates are huge, both in business and first class.
Speaker B:
Qatar, of course, it's, it's a, it's a great option as well.
Speaker B:
I mean, most of the lounges, I've never struck a really bad lounge.
Speaker B:
I suppose the only one is probably Finnair, but, you know, but majority of them, you know, the lounges I find have been very good.
Speaker A:
Well, controversial, I know, but I actually find the Emirates lounges too big in Dubai.
Speaker A:
They're just these cavernous spaces.
Speaker A:
I actually love the cafe lounges in Hong Kong.
Speaker A:
I am particularly fond of the noodle bars and the dan dan noodles.
Speaker A:
We could go down that road for quite some time.
Speaker A:
Bit like the satay on board Malaysian dentists.
Speaker A:
But I just think the design of some of the cafe lounges in Hong Kong is very special and they've really thought about it carefully.
Speaker A:
Whereas the Emirates lounges are functional, it's just.
Speaker B:
But they're massive.
Speaker C:
Yes, look, Emirates is very mass market in that respect because they've got such a high volume.
Speaker C:
I saw the other day, there's 147 flights from the UK through to Dubai every week.
Speaker C:
On Emirates, on Emirates, on Emirates.
Speaker C:
And probably two thirds of those are on a 380s.
Speaker C:
So there's a massive amount of volume going through Dubai.
Speaker C:
And, you know, once the new airport is open, hopefully it'll be big enough.
Speaker C:
But at the moment, depending on the terminal you arrive, the lounges are going to be really crowded or really, really big.
Speaker C:
Like the one in concourse A is.
Speaker C:
It stretches the full length of the terminal.
Speaker C:
And the advantage of that one is at least you've got.
Speaker C:
You can find quiet space.
Speaker C:
But it will take you 10 minutes to walk from one end or 15 minutes from one end of the lounge to the other end of the lounge.
Speaker C:
You can board directly from the lounge onto the aircraft.
Speaker C:
And that's pretty good too.
Speaker A:
I recall a couple of years ago, I regrettably left my laptop in the Security bucket going through one of the security gates and I didn't realize until I got to the new terminal.
Speaker A:
So I had to go back at Dubai Airport to the security gate that I was at to go and find my laptop.
Speaker A:
Then I had to prove to them that it was my laptop and I knew the password.
Speaker A:
And I was actually really grateful for the efficiency of the airport at that point.
Speaker A:
These were very big distances in Dubai, but I managed to navigate it and get my belongings back and get to a lounge and get on the aircraft, all with just moments to spare.
Speaker A:
Whereas if that had happened in any other destination, I quite possibly would have either missed my flight or lost my laptop.
Speaker A:
One or the other.
Speaker C:
Oh, well done.
Speaker A:
That's Dubai for you.
Speaker C:
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:
So it's very confusing for consumers, isn't it, trying to figure out how to make take advantage of their loyalty programs and their alliance partners.
Speaker A:
David, where does a consumer go to unpack that and understand what might be available to them in terms of lounges and options?
Speaker B:
Well, it depends which one they're with, whether they're with Virgin, Qantas or it really comes back down to the domestic carriers because they're the ones that you're flying all the time.
Speaker B:
So, you know, with Qatar, you got both, you got Qantas and Virgin, whereas with Emirates, you've got.
Speaker B:
You've got Qantas as well, because they're doing alliance, if they want to get their status points, that determines on which way that they're going to travel.
Speaker B:
But, you know, if they.
Speaker B:
They don't look at that, you know, it doesn't really matter if they're flying up the front of the aircraft because they're going to always go into a lounge anyway.
Speaker A:
It's a good reason why they should have a trusted travel advisor to help them with that, because if they were traveling on Malaysian and they were traveling through kl, they would have access to more lounges than just Malaysians.
Speaker A:
They could potentially use the British Airways lounge or the Qantas lounge, if there was one.
Speaker A:
And having that conversation before they go, their advisor, who could help them with that.
Speaker A:
I'm sure it is early bird season.
Speaker A:
I do want to touch on that before we end, because we talk about that a lot in the travel industry, don't we?
Speaker A:
And I think a lot of consumers hear this term.
Speaker A:
You know, the early bird fares are out, and I've seen some great business class early bird fares around this year, albeit I think the fares are slightly higher in business class this year than last year.
Speaker B:
There's all the Airlines have got different, you know, fares out there in the marketplace.
Speaker B:
They all seem to sit around the same amount, though.
Speaker B:
You know, I think they look at each other's fares and then they, they might increase it a little bit here or decrease it a bit there, but there's a few of them that do something, you know, completely different.
Speaker B:
I think Cathay have got a fare, you know, around the.
Speaker B:
The high sevens, you know, and 8,000, whereas some of the others are sitting around the nine.
Speaker B:
But then, you know, Qatar can bring out a sale fee, you know, around the eight.
Speaker B:
So they're hovering around, you know, between the eight and the $10,000 mark, you know.
Speaker B:
But the early bird is if you leave it go to next year, they don't usually have the sales.
Speaker A:
What I'm hearing is that the early bird fares are a sale fair, designed to target leisure clients over business clients.
Speaker A:
Right, Correct.
Speaker A:
And the intention is that they can find, fill certain amount of their forward bookings with leisure and then build on it after that.
Speaker A:
You would see this in your business too.
Speaker A:
Dennis at Bunnock Tours.
Speaker A:
Is it true to say that the early birds do attract a lot of interest?
Speaker A:
Is that something we should be looking out for?
Speaker C:
Yeah, I don't think the early bird sales are necessarily as strong as what they were, say, 10, 15 years ago.
Speaker C:
The early bird season was a really clearly defined.
Speaker A:
It was a big deal back then, very big deal.
Speaker C:
Now that seems to have dissipated a bit.
Speaker C:
It is a little bit of supply and demand.
Speaker C:
Yes.
Speaker C:
We'd like people to book as early as possible.
Speaker C:
And you do have people booking up to 15 months in advance for tours and for cruises longer with airfares.
Speaker C:
The system only allows sort of 11 and a half months out, is when you can start to book a flight.
Speaker C:
I was speaking to an airline executive earlier this week and we were talking about this because yield management is what the airlines call it.
Speaker C:
It's their technical name for trying to squeeze every dollar out flight.
Speaker C:
And the worst, the worst case scenario for an airline is to sell out a flight 10 months before departure.
Speaker C:
Because in the airline's mind as well, we've got to keep some seats back for our frequent flyers, you know, our corporate travelers who want availability.
Speaker C:
And if it's sold 10 months out in advance, that means that we, we haven't charged enough.
Speaker A:
We could have saved more money.
Speaker C:
Exactly.
Speaker C:
So the airlines play this game and consumers are sort of playing and travel agents are playing the same is how far in advance do I book and when can I get the.
Speaker C:
When can I get the best deal?
Speaker A:
And what's the answer to that, Dennis?
Speaker C:
There unfortunately is no simple answer.
Speaker C:
But if you need to be at a wedding next year in Provence on the 10th of June, you book now.
Speaker C:
Right.
Speaker A:
So I took.
Speaker C:
Yeah, you know, book during early bird season, try and get your flights locked in because once those seats are gone, those seats are gone.
Speaker C:
And as you get closer to if the date is really important, then it's.
Speaker C:
Then you've got a higher risk.
Speaker C:
If you've got total flexibility, you don't really mind when you go, then last minute deals can often save you as much or more than early bird deals.
Speaker A:
I often talk about it.
Speaker A:
I try and help people define their trip as either being a strategic traveler or an opportunistic traveler.
Speaker A:
You can change from trip to trip, but a strategic traveler, as you rightly point out, has to be at a certain place at a certain time on a certain date.
Speaker A:
And they are constrained by that.
Speaker A:
And the reality is they are better to lock it in and lock it in early so they have the choice of flight availability and seat that they want, et cetera.
Speaker A:
And if it doesn't really matter and you can be a bit more opportunistic, you might actually jag an offer as part of that, but you might need to be a bit flexible around that and travel on a Tuesday instead of a Thursday.
Speaker A:
And that's okay because you have the time available.
Speaker A:
I think it does help to take a step back as the traveler and say, what kind of traveler am I for this type of trip?
Speaker A:
And then you can make better judgment calls as you go through that process with your advisor about which fare to settle for.
Speaker A:
We've gamified business class travel and it is difficult to know how to win that game.
Speaker C:
Yes, yeah, yeah, oh, definitely.
Speaker C:
And routing comes into that as well.
Speaker C:
So if you're flying from Sydney to LA or say east coast to the usa, if you're flying direct with any of the American or Australian carriers, you're going to be paying a significant premium than if you would be flying say with Japan Airlines or ANA or Korean Airlines via Asia or Fiji Airways.
Speaker B:
Cafe.
Speaker C:
Yeah, exactly, Cathay.
Speaker C:
And some of them the connections can be really good.
Speaker C:
Other times the connections, it's a lot longer trip, but it can save you thousands.
Speaker C:
And often those things can be a bigger saver than say chasing an early bird deal.
Speaker A:
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker B:
And you get more status points too sometimes because the flights are longer and you get more status points and you.
Speaker C:
Get to use those fancy lounges in.
Speaker A:
Hong Kong and the Dan Dan Noodles yeah, exactly.
Speaker C:
Win, win, win.
Speaker A:
Let's just talk briefly about what's next.
Speaker A:
Project Sunrise, you mentioned it earlier, Dennis.
Speaker A:
How do you see ultra long haul flights like Project Sunrise reshaping premium travel in the future?
Speaker C:
I think Project Sunrise is going to be really important for the Australian traveler, less so for some others.
Speaker C:
So Project Sunrise is Qantas project where they're wanting to fly nonstop from Sydney to Europe, so into London primarily and Sydney to New York non stop.
Speaker C:
So in order to be able to do that.
Speaker C:
Yeah, they're waiting on the arrival of some new aircraft that they've ordered, the A350, an ultra long range aircraft and they've got to get that balance right.
Speaker C:
Singapore Airlines has a direct flight from Singapore through to New York and it's using one of these A350s.
Speaker C:
But because of the distance and the weight restrictions, they don't offer economy class.
Speaker C:
It's only premium, economy and business class.
Speaker C:
What Qantas wants to do on this Project Sunrise is offer all four classes, so economy, premium, economy, business and first class, nonstop from Sydney through to London.
Speaker A:
And that, that is a flight where I'm definitely using my Qantas points to try and upgrade out of economy.
Speaker A:
Dennis, that is a very long way down the back of the bus.
Speaker A:
How long can we expect the flight from Sydney to London?
Speaker C:
Oh, that would be 20, 21 hours.
Speaker C:
It's a long time in a seat.
Speaker A:
David, do you think we'll have demand for that from the luxury leisure market?
Speaker B:
I think so because you know, I don't mind the stopover but you know, a lot of people want to get there directly.
Speaker B:
You know, they don't want to fly via somewhere because once you hit the ground, you don't know what's going to happen on the ground, where the other flight's going to be delayed or whatever.
Speaker B:
At least you know you're on that flight and that you're going to, you know, you're definitely going to get there and I think it'd be, it'd be a great opportunity for a lot of people.
Speaker A:
Well, we certainly know Perth, London, Perth, Paris, Perth, Rome, that's all been very, very popular with the, the Australian discerning traveler over the last two or three years that Qantas have been flying.
Speaker A:
So I can't see why the extra legs, Sydney, London, etc Sydney, York, as you say, Dennis, wouldn't be as well.
Speaker C:
Interesting one.
Speaker C:
It's an interesting one though because it's a fantastic service.
Speaker C:
If you live in Perth and you can go nonstop to Rome, Paris or London, Great I'm in Adelaide and at the end of this month I'm actually flying from here to London via Perth.
Speaker C:
Yep.
Speaker C:
But coming back and I've got to go for a conference.
Speaker C:
So I'm literally in London for five nights and then I'm coming home again.
Speaker C:
Flying home, I'm flying with Emirates with a one and a half hour connection in Dubai straight into Adelaide.
Speaker C:
Now I'm going to be doing a flight review video on this one to see which one is actually quicker and what's more comfortable because it's two and a half hours from Adelaide to Perth on a 737 domestic service.
Speaker C:
Then there's the transfer there and then there's a long haul versus two widebody long haul flights direct into Adelaide.
Speaker C:
So it's great if you're living in Sydney and you're doing that direct serve, great if you're living in Perth.
Speaker C:
But for the rest of us living in other cities the advantage may not be that big compared to, you know, the existing hop services that we've that are out there.
Speaker A:
Well, I definitely look forward to those flight reviews on your YouTube channel, that's for sure.
Speaker A:
It'll all, it'll be all about efficiency for you, you know, vis a vis efficiency.
Speaker A:
David, with premium economy really having boomed since COVID and as we said is not available on every airline, do we think that premium economy will continue to grow and first will continue to shrink?
Speaker B:
Yeah, it just probably depends on the destination and the airlines as well I think, you know, because look, first class is a great product and they do make a fair bit of money on those first and business class products.
Speaker B:
I think premium economies may be extended but I think more business class seats will be put on the aircraft as I think that is the level.
Speaker B:
They might even drop back on more economy seats because then they got more people paying, you know, premium economy, you know, that's an airline thing.
Speaker B:
But you know, I just, I can't really say how but I just think that business class is probably going to be the sweet spot for the airlines, the sweet spot for our travellers.
Speaker A:
Well, it's certainly stacked up and held up, hasn't it, over the last three or four years, that's for sure, Dennis.
Speaker C:
And we're seeing through Bunnock Tours the number of people who are now flying premium cabins.
Speaker C:
Premium economy, yes, but business very, very much so.
Speaker C:
Because we're so far away from everywhere, we tend to travel further and longer than everybody else.
Speaker C:
So that means we think of nothing of going to Europe for three months, maybe doing a couple of Back to back tours and some independent travel as well.
Speaker C:
And maybe a river cruise in there.
Speaker C:
Flying business class to start that trip and to end it that way makes the overall trip so much more enjoyable and more comfortable.
Speaker C:
So I think certainly from Australia, business class travel will be here for a long, long time.
Speaker C:
Yeah, first class.
Speaker C:
If I can give one tip, try it one day.
Speaker A:
See if you like it.
Speaker C:
Yeah.
Speaker C:
And the tip there is do something that I did.
Speaker C:
I was on a fair with Air France in business class from Europe back to Australia.
Speaker C:
And when I checked in, I actually realized that the aircraft that I was on had a first class cabin between Paris and Singapore.
Speaker C:
And I asked the question, do you have any first class seats left?
Speaker C:
And what is the cost to upgrade?
Speaker C:
And the answer was, yes, we have one seat left.
Speaker C:cabin, the cost was about €:Speaker C:
And so that's €100 an hour.
Speaker C:
And I thought, this is my chance.
Speaker C:
So I did it.
Speaker C:
My world changed completely.
Speaker C:
It was totally transformed from that moment onwards.
Speaker C:
They said, oh, you can't check in here.
Speaker C:
The lady escorted me to the first class check in.
Speaker C:
I was then in the warm embrace of Air France.
Speaker C:
From the moment I checked in, they took me through the back of security, immigration, escorted me to the special lounge, then drove me in my own BMW car to the aircraft, personally escorted me to my seat, my own set of stairs, and I had the best, the best meal that I've had on any flight anywhere.
Speaker B:
Wow.
Speaker C:
On that flight.
Speaker C:
And was it money well spent?
Speaker C:
Fantastic.
Speaker C:
Yes, 100%.
Speaker C:
And that was just through asking the question at check in.
Speaker B:
Wow.
Speaker A:
Yeah.
Speaker A:
I mean, those sorts of experiences are just such a once in a lifetime kind of moment, aren't they?
Speaker C:
Yes.
Speaker C:
Yeah.
Speaker A:
From the sounds of things, you'll be back for another dose of Air France first class whenever you can.
Speaker C:
Oh, 100%.
Speaker A:
Any final tips from you, David, around your fly smarter takeaways from today's conversation?
Speaker B:
For people, you know, smart luxury, it's, it's the right product for the right journey.
Speaker B:
I think that's what people are gonna look for if you're on a nine hour daylight flight.
Speaker B:
Well, yeah, hop into premium economy.
Speaker B:
But if it's a flight through to Europe, you'd want to look at upgrading to business Flatbed.
Speaker A:
Yeah.
Speaker B:
And I think that clients should, you know, treat the flight as part of their holiday.
Speaker B:
You know, at the end of the day, they arrive fresh and they start in style.
Speaker B:
So it's always nice to just get there and have your French champagne and Sit back and relax and that's the start of your holiday.
Speaker A:
I will say it is unique, isn't it?
Speaker A:
Because there aren't too many countries in the world that are as far away from Europe and North America as Australia.
Speaker A:
And as a result, there aren't too many countries in the world that are booking as far out as Australians and perhaps New zealanders do.
Speaker A:
So 14, 15 months out.
Speaker A:
Dennis, you said it before.
Speaker A:
Those days in advance are some of the longest in the world.
Speaker A:
There is something to be said for investing in the whole experience right from the time you leave home to the time that you come home, isn't there?
Speaker C:
Oh, 100%, yes.
Speaker C:
And the end of that, you can't take it with you.
Speaker C:
Life is about experiences.
Speaker C:
And would I travel more in the premium cabins and therefore travel less?
Speaker C:
No, but I would always choose to travel more.
Speaker C:
So travel economy and travel more.
Speaker C:
But if you have the ability to do both to travel more and to travel in the premium cabins, I would take that over buying a new car or a new kitchen any day.
Speaker A:
Well, it's quite advice, I think, and something that we certainly learned from two years of having our country locked down is to really take advantage of those experiences when they come around.
Speaker A:
Look, I can't thank you enough.
Speaker A:
You've both been so generous with your experience, with your knowledge, with your wisdom today.
Speaker A:
And I just want to say on behalf of all our listeners, a very big thank you to you, David Brandon, to you, Dennis Bunnick.
Speaker A:
Thank you for joining us on the podcast today at Luxury Unpacked.
Speaker C:
Thanks for having us.
Speaker C:
Thank you.
Speaker C:
It's always fun talking airplanes.
Speaker B:
Thanks, Piano.
Speaker C:
Foreign.
Speaker A:
Episode of the season.
Speaker A:
It's been super fun to take to the skies, to decode the world of luxury air travel.
Speaker A:
We've explored the value of premium economy as the savvy upgrade for comfort without breaking the bank.
Speaker A:
We've unpacked why business class remains the gold standard for luxury travellers.
Speaker A:
And we've discussed why first class is still worth the splurge.
Speaker A:
David brought the Advisor lens, helping us understand how to guide clients through these choices, while Dennis gave us an insider's take on what it actually feels like to fly in each cabin class, complete with his trademark detail and depth.
Speaker A:
From cabin layouts and fleet types to point strategies and early bird deals, we've covered the tips, the traps and the trends that matter most when flying long haul in style.
Speaker A:
We hope you've been able to take home a few tips to help you too.
Speaker A:
Well, that actually brings us to the close of season one.
Speaker A:
Over the past 10 episodes, we've explored what luxury means today, from wellness treats and regenerative travel to boutique cruising and, of course, personalised service at 40,000ft.
Speaker A:
Whether you're a travel advisor, a curious traveller or just someone who dreams in first class flatbeds, I hope you found something in all of these conversations to inform, inspire or maybe even challenge your perspective on what luxury really looks like today.
Speaker A:
A huge thank you to all of our incredible guests across the season, and to you, our listeners, for tuning in, sharing the show and helping us celebrate the value of expertise in an age of abundance.
Speaker A:
We'll be back with more conversations soon, but for now, wherever you're heading next, may your journey begin in comfort, unfold with meaning, and always end with a story worth sharing.
Speaker A:
Until next time, safe travels and thank you for listening to Luxury Unpacked.
Speaker A:
If you enjoyed this show, you can subscribe to Luxury Unpacked on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker A:
Want more stories on Luxury travel?
Speaker A:
Head to carryon.com au with a K Luxury for all the latest news and advice.
Speaker A:
This is a Carry on podcast Together in travel.
